Los Angeles Dodgers’ Max Muncy, right, is congratulated by Matt Kemp after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Saturday, June 9, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Max Muncy hits a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Saturday, June 9, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Saturday, June 9, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Atlanta Braves’ Nick Markakis is congratulated by teammates after scoring on a single by Charlie Culberson during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Saturday, June 9, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Alex Wood throws to the plate during the second inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Saturday, June 9, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Atlanta Braves’ Dansby Swanson, left, and Freddie Freeman congratulate each other after scoring on a double by Tyler Flowers during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Saturday, June 9, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Kenta Maeda, of Japan, smiles in the dugout prior to a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Saturday, June 9, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Atlanta Braves left fielder Charlie Culberson can’t get to a ball hit for a double by Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 9, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Arodys Vizcaino throws to the plate during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Saturday, June 9, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

LOS ANGELES — Alex Wood has started 13 games for the Dodgers this season. He has been credited with just one win.

He fell short again on Saturday, when he gave up nine hits and two earned runs in a 5-3 loss to the Braves. He lasted 4-2/3 innings at Dodger Stadium. Perhaps most discouragingly, this was part of a string of three starts that Wood himself called “the toughest of my career.”

A year ago, Wood went 16-3 a year ago, carried a 2.72 ERA and even earned himself a Cy Young vote. Unfortunately for the Dodgers, it’s unclear where that pitcher has gone.

Wood has not pitched more than six innings since March 30, when he struck out five in eight shutout innings. It still stands as his best outing of the year, but the Dodgers didn’t get help elsewhere in what turned out to be a 1-0 loss to the Giants.

Compared to some of Wood’s other outings this year, Saturday was inoffensively middling. The 27-year-old has given up at least five earned runs three times this year — including six in just two innings against the Rockies last Sunday. Manager Dave Roberts attributed Wood’s struggles in part to his health; the pitcher has dealt with cramps in his left leg over the past month.

“He’s not a guy that’s going to go up there and make an excuse, but we know that he’s not 100 percent synced up right now,” Roberts said.

Wood’s ERA actually improved slightly to 4.43 against Atlanta, but remains the worst figure of his career.

“It’s one of those things where you’re just grinding really hard,” he said. “You’ve got to think that one of these next two will start to turn, but definitely some frustration.”

With several starters on the disabled list, only two Dodgers pitchers have lasted at least five innings this month: Walker Buehler, who did it twice, and Ross Stripling. None has reached six.

But the Dodgers (32-32) remain just 2-1/2 games behind the Diamondbacks for the NL West lead, having weathered recent struggles on the mound with hot bats. They entered the weekend having hit 22 home runs this month — nine more than anyone else in the major leagues. Their 62 runs in June also led all clubs.

Saturday began similarly, with Max Muncy sending Anibal Sanchez’s splitter into the right-center field bleachers. It was the 11th home run of the year for Muncy, who has also filled in at third base as Justin Turner recovers from a sore left wrist.

“It’s hard to keep him out of the lineup,” Roberts said.

But the Dodgers fell quiet. Sanchez retired the next eight batters, a streak that ended only when Muncy drew a full-count walk in the fourth inning. His teammates didn’t capitalize. Matt Kemp grounded into a double play, and Cody Bellinger struck out swinging.

The Dodgers finally added to the scoreboard in the fifth, when Logan Forsythe grounded out with runners on second and third. Yasiel Puig, who had singled to lead off the bottom of the inning, rounded home to cut the Braves’ lead to 4-2.

Pulled after 5-1/3 innings, Sanchez ended his night with five strikeouts against three hits, two walks and two earned runs.His team padded its lead shortly afterward, scoring its fifth run on Nick Markakis’ RBI single.

The Dodgers responded in the bottom of the seventh, with Puig keeping the team in striking distance. The outfielder advanced to third on a groundout, and bolted for home on a wild pitch by A.J. Minter.

Chris Taylor singled in the eighth, and moved into scoring position when Muncy drew his third walk of the night. Kemp then flew out to center field — teasing the crowd of 52,718 into some inconsequential cheers. The inning ended with Bellinger, swinging into his third strikeout of the night.

Jack Wang covers the Chargers, the latest NFL team to relocate to Los Angeles. He previously covered the Rams, and also spent four years on the UCLA beat, a strange period in which the Bruins' football program often outpaced their basketball team. He is a proud graduate of UC Berkeley, where he spent most of his time in The Daily Californian offices in Eshleman Hall — a building that did not become earthquake-safe until after his time on campus.